Several years ago, on 1 November 2003, one of my best friends from college married my oldest brother in the Salt Lake Temple. This was such a happy event for me, for temple marriage and families are central to our Father’s Plan for us.
“The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.”The Family: A Proclamation to the World
Since I was not only one of her best friends, but also her future sister-in-law, I became one of her five bridesmaids. As one of my duties I helped pick out the, all-important, wedding dress.
Keeping in mind the guidelines for proper temple wedding attire, for the bride, we looked all over the place, at multiple dress stores, to find the perfect gown. At last we found it, and let me tell you this dress was beautiful. For those of the female gender, reading this post, I will briefly describe the gown.
It was a white/white corset styled gown that laced up the back, with a full skirt that fell into a small train. It was made in sateen with an embroidered sheer overlay. This was definitely what I would call a Cinderella dress or Princess gown. At the time, I thought to myself, “Self, I want a dress just like this someday when I get married.”
Now, if you could only imagine my surprise, when the other day, my little brother (who had been visiting my oldest brother’s family) brought home the dress, slip and veil stating that it was now mine, if it fit me, and if I wanted it.
Apparently, my sister-in-law, who recently moved into a new apartment, was cleaning house and getting rid of unnecessary things, to simplify her life. Since she was never planning on using the gown again, she thought to send it to someone who someday would. With an ironic smile I went and tried it on. Lo and behold it was a perfect fit!
So now here I am a 25-year-old return missionary, with no prospects in sight, who already owns her wedding dress… Sigh. I just won’t tell the guys about it. After all I wouldn’t want to scare them away any more than they already are.
